America’s Obesity Epidemic Hits The Military

I recently viewed a report that made me laugh and shake my head at the same time. The Pentagon recently announced that the obesity epidemic in America is now affecting the United States Armed Forces. According to Washington officials, nearly 1/3 of young Americans are too obese to join the military. The following statement was released:

“Obesity has long threatened our nation’s health. As the epidemic grows, obesity is posing a threat to our nation’s security as well,” the Council for a Strong America states in its new report.

The Army recently announced they will miss their new recruits quota by 6,500. This would be the first time of such an occurrence since 2005. The Department of Defense said that 71% of 17-24 year-old Americans do not meet the requirements to serve in the military. Though there are several factors impacting this situation, obesity is the number one factor. The following statement was also released on the growing challenge of military recruiting in an obese society:

Given the high percentage of American youth who are too overweight to serve, recruiting challenges will continue unless measures are taken to encourage a healthy lifestyle beginning at a young age,” states the study, entitled “Unhealthy and Unprepared.”

This issue of obesity and an unhealthy lifestyle continues to plague the military even after basic training. According to retired Army Major General Jeffery Phillips, the military spends 1.5 billion dollars a year treating obesity related health conditions and filling positions vacated by unfit soldiers.

This situation discussed is a micro of the macro. I wrote a post several months ago concerning a research study that found the majority of Wisconsin residents were obese and this was a reflection of American society. The Obama administration had knowledge of the pending obesity epidemic and how it would affect America. I have many beefs with the Obama administration, but one thing that I give them credit for is wanting to change the situation of childhood obesity in America. In 2010 when First Lady Michelle Obama started her health initiative, and wanted to improve school lunches, she was met with much resistance. Many in the public and legislative members said that the government should not be able to tell people what and how to eat. Now look, the same children that she was trying to help eight years ago are now too fat to serve in the military. The irony of how things happen.

I do find it hypocritical that government officials complain about spending 1.5 billion dollars to help soldiers suffering from obesity related illnesses when they give billions of U.S. tax dollars to those devils in Israel to bomb poor Palestinians. However, this is not about the military or the government. This is about a health crisis that is plaguing our society.

People have been given this fake idea of what “healthy” is. The food pyramid that we use has been proven to be 100% WRONG by Harvard and many other researchers. Every aspect of how we are supposed to eat has been given to us by medical professionals whom have no interest in seeing you live optimally. I’m not saying that all doctors are crooks. That would be foolish. However, it is worth asking how does the average physician or pharmaceutical industry profit if everyone is living a healthy lifestyle? I have seen several anonymous studies that have shown doctors do not live by the same rules that they give their patients. So they might tell you that its okay to have this or that in moderation, but they wouldn’t feed that crap to their dogs.

There has been a growing contingency of people wanting to take better care of their health. The “Whole Foods Movement” is proving that the new manner in which you are measured in society is by the way that you eat. If you don’t believe me then take a look at every metropolitan area that Whole Foods has moved in. It has literally changed the culture wherever it goes. If you are getting out of a brand new Bugatti with some greasy fattening food then that’s not cool anymore. Now, if you’re walking with some kale salad and sliced mangoes then you are popping in these streets.

The message of improving your health must be pushed. We are entering an era were people are being outlived by their parents. We will soon begin the holiday season, and people will quickly turn it into the hell-a-days. Two months of horrible eating, gluttony, greed, and pagan practices that will destroy us physically, emationally, and spiritually. Then we will go into the New Year in worst shape than we were the previous year, make a fake New Year’s resolution, fall off around April, then start the same cycle all over gain.

There is no better time than the present to improve ourselves and fight obesity before its too late.

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3 thoughts on “America’s Obesity Epidemic Hits The Military”

What’s also funny and sad at the same time is that I have longed called for an end to our young people joining the U.S. military because of what it stands for, but no way did I think that our young people ‘could not’ join based on the fact that they are too obese. If this weren’t so sad, it would be quite laughable. I think that part of the blame is the fact that parents have allowed their children to take up technology that has encouraged a sedentary lifestyle for their children with the advent of smartphones, and other devices that have taken the place of bicycles, going outside and shooting hoops or playing dodge ball, kickball, roller skating, bowling; all the fun things we did as kids. Many don’t do those things because they are somewhere playing video games. My own son is an adult and though he is not obese because he walks everywhere, he is still glued to a smartphone screen playing video games. The other problem is the fact that we have poison for food and not only that, but our water is also toxic thanks to toxic runoff from pesticide riddle crops and trains that derail near rivers and streams, spilling their toxic content. The meat that people eat has been injected with growth hormones and antibiotics and that is why children are developing before they should and why there is a prevalence of antibiotic resistant diseases. The situation is only going to get worse because no one is addressing these serious issues.

I agree with you 100%. If you are an advocate for social justice then you are very aware of the uphill battle that’s ahead. The frustrating part is that it seems the more you alert the people of what’s going on, the more they ignore.